Shannon Larratt is Zentastic

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I've just posted an update to Under Mars for those that are interested. This update contains mostly shots of Iraq that have a real (and surreal) “tourist” vibe to them (less combat oriented photos than in previous postings). The experience of war isn't just fear and fighting; there's an immense logistics and operations wing that has to support it all.

Thank you to everyone who's been supporting the site and sending good feedback about it. If you know anyone (they don't have to be in Iraq, and they don't have to be American) serving that might like to share their photos, please consider sending them the URL of the site.

www.undermars.com

A few entries back I mentioned some of IAM's ability to do geolocation maps of usage. I thought it might be fun to do an animation showing a full day's use. Below is about forty minutes, starting at just after 7AM EST. Assuming my little bot keeps running smoothly, I'll post the full twenty-four hour animation tomorrow. I don't have time right now to do “recreational” programming, but I think I need to add a graphics overlay that lets me display both daytime and nighttime backgrounds on the same image… it's not hard to do, it's just a matter of finding the time.

In the past two weeks I have taken thirteen separate flights on six different airlines on three continents and eight countries, and cleared security at ten different airports. Security is an interest of mine both personally and professionally, and at every one of those points it could easily be breached — and no reasonable measures could be put in to stop it. With virtually no effort I could have brought loaded firearms and explosives onto any of the flights, and I have come to the conclusion that the two main reasons we don't have more hijackings and suicide attacks with airplanes are:

1. When it comes right down to it, not many groups or people actually want to do such a thing. It's like serial killing — the reason that we don't have more serial killers isn't because it's inherently difficult, but because it's simply not something that most people do more than fantasize about.
2. Extremist Muslims and others who may have a terrorist streak in them are not interested in putting large objects up their ass. Suicide attacks? Sure, but don't touch my butt!

But take my second point seriously. The average person can easily anally accept an object an inch and a half across without any real training*.

* Funny story about that… a business partner of mine knew he was about to be spending some time in jail so he shoved some money up his ass before going in. On credit, he bought cigarettes and other goods upon his arrival, promising to repay the debt as soon as the money was “released”… problem was, the stress of being back in prison (and having to use a public toilet in front of others) made him totally unable to pass it, and the constant threats of “if you don't get me my money, I'm going to go in there and get it myself” weren't making things easier.

With a few months of training, objects three or four inches in diameter can be accepted without pain or stress — and that's just the “bottleneck”. The actual cavity is much larger. A dismantled and latex coated gun (ceramic and plastic to bypass the mag-gates) could easily be inserted along with magazine and ammunition, and never be detected. Several grenades can be shoved up there and emerge as deadly explosive eggs.

I'm mentioning this not as a recommendation, but to once again point out the obvious — breaching airline security is not difficult. This isn't the same as pulling a bank heist or some other form of security breach that requires finesse, nor is it entry into prison where searches involving personal violation are acceptable. If one's singular goal is moving weapons through a security checkpoint in order to take control of a situation, then success can be made certain with a little proctological thinking.

I wonder… when the “shoe bomber” scare was going on, they spent the next six months or so forcing everyone to have their shoes x-rayed. If someone actually pulls this stunt, I'm not looking forward to having a speculum shoved up my rump every time I fly.

Anyway… I took some pictures from the window of the airplane between Los Angeles and Mazatlan, Mexico (I have some from the second leg, but that's another entry). The photos above are all of the Baja Peninsula and the accompanying coastline on the mainland (note the second last one — something is on fire). My flight is delayed so I'm actually writing this entry from the Mazatlan airport in advance…

Other than that I've lost my voice from all the flying and can hardly talk right now!